Billfold



Sept. 4, 1934. I' P. A. GARDNER, JR t I 1,9.72295 BILL'FOL'Dv Filed Aug.13, 1932 2 'shee's-sheet 2 EYN Patented Sept. 4; 1934 'um'rap s'rATEsQP'IEirr oFFica mmm-omv Prince A. Gmin", Jr., st. mnie, m. ApplicationAugust 18, 1932, sam Nu. 828,828

femme. '(cl. iso- 88) This invention relates to billfo1ds;\.and-it'hasspecial reference to billfolds of an improved type comprising aninwardly open pocket at one end of the billfold and a frame at theopposite end U of the billfold having in connection with its upperlongitudinal edge a wall element extending downwardly between the.frame` and an outer wall, in combination with means'y for holding saidpocket and said frame in 'proper cooperative relationship, and a slidingpanel having one end portion extending into said pocket' and theopposite end portion extending between said frame and said wall member.

An objectof the invention is to providean improved billfold comprising aunitary section of fiexible and pliable material including an outerwall, an inwardly extended wall element having connection with one endand the lower longitu'- dinal edge of said outer wall, and a wall memberhaving connection with the upper longitudinal edge of said wall elementextending downwardly between said wall element and said outer wall, saidunitary section also including a frame having connection with theopposite end and lower longi- -tudinal edge of said outer wall andprovided with a wall member in connection with the upper edge thereofextending downwardly between said frame and said outer wall, incombination with a flexible and pliable panel bridging .the spacebetween said wall element and said frame, and means connecting the lowerlongitudinal edges of said wall member with the lower longitudinal edgesof said wall element and said frame, respectively, the said connectionsof said wall element and said frame with the lowerlongitudinal edge ofsaid outer wallcovering and protecting said connecting means- Anotherobject of the invention is yto provide an improved billfold of thecharacter ,mentioned 40 including apartition located inl the compartmentbetween the outer wall and said wall members' and having a portion ofits lower longitudinal edge connected with the lower longitudinal edge eof one or both of said wall members in instances where such connectionis desired and omitting such connection where it is desirable to do so.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved and novelconnection for holding the frame of the billfold in proper cooperativerelation to the. other parts. i l

Various other objects and advantages of this invention will appear fromthe following description,.re`ference being made to the annexeddrawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view 5a of a mam: designed ma 'ingmembers 4 and 5 integrallyunited with the adapted to be folded intoproper cooperative relatlonship to oooperate with a sliding panel andwith ian elongated partition to provide the bill' com- .partment orcompartments and inwardly open spaced compartments or pockets.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a partition member for cooperation with theblank shown in Fig. 1 when said blank is properly folded and partsthereof connected together.

Fig. 3 -is a plan view of a sliding panel contructed and arranged tohave its ends mounted in the longitudinall1 spaced pockets orcompartments to cooperate with the different parts thereof and with theouter wall or with the partition as herein made apparent.

Fig. 4 is tan inside plan view of a billfold con structed in accordancewith this invention.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional viev? on the line` 6-7 of Fig. 4showing the lower longitudinal edges of the wall member and frameconnected by fastening means.

7 is a sectional view on the .same section line showing a constructionin whichl the fastenmg means is omitted.

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view .on the line 8-9 of Fig. 4 showingan extension of the partition in the elongated bill compartmentextending underl the wall member and frame and secured to said'frame andunattached to the wall member that cooperates with said partition toform a compartment.

Fig. 9 is a'similar sectional view on the line 8-9 of Fig. 4 showing thepartition attached to the cooperating wall member, to the frame and to atransparent panel mounted in cooperative relation to the frame.

Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view on the line 10-10 of 4.

Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view on the line 11-11 of Fix. 4.

In the embodlment shown, a unitry blank is utilized to form many of thewalls of the billfold. This unitary blank, as shown in Fig. 1, is madeof leather, or other appropriate fiexible material.

The blank shown omprises an outer wall'l, a wall elemerie and a frame 3integrally connected with spacededge portions of the wall 1, wallformupper longitudinaledges of the wall element 2 and the frame 3,respectively, tabs 6 and 'I connected with spaced edge portions of thewall 1 at right angles to the edge portions of said wall with which thewall element 2 ,and the frame desired,v the extended end portions of thetab 6 toward each other parallel with the wall 1, and

the wallmembers 4 `and 5 are extended downwardly between the outer wall1 and the wall element 2 and the frame 3, respectively, to positions tocooperate with saidvwall element 2 and frame 3 to form inwardly openpockets closed along their upper sides by the connections uniting thewall members 4 and 5 with the wall element 2 and frame 3, respectively.

` Spaced portions of the lower side of the compartment between the outerwall 1 and the wall members 4 and 5 are closed by the tabs 6 and 7 whichare extended upwardly and connected with the lower portions of the wallelement 2 and the frame 3, respectively. The tab 6 has tongues 10 on itsinner and outer ends which are extended through slits 11 in thewallelement 2 and preferably -securedrtherein by a lining' 12 adhesivelyattached to the inner surface of the wall element 2 and to said tonguesand covering said tongues toI prevent articles from engaging or becomingentangled therewith when articles are inserted in or removed from thepocket or space between the wall element 2 and thev wall member 4. If

below the tongues 10 may be attached to.the outer surface of the wallelement 2 by glue, or other fastening means; although, if desired, thetab 6 may be unattached to the outer surface of z the wall element 2.

The tab 7, as shown, is provided with an extension 13 designed andadapted to be extended through the frame 3 and thence downwardly againstand attached to the lower portion of aid frame by glue, or otherappropriate fasteing means.

As indicated, thewall members 4 and 5 extend downwardly between theouter wall 1 and the wall element 2 and frame 3,V respectively. In thisfolded and assembled relationship, the wall element 2 and frame 3 areseparated, by an'intervening space. The lower marginal portion of theinner side of the wall 1 in this intervening space is covered by the tab9 which is folded upwardly against and attached to the inner surface ofthe wall 1 to provide an .ornamental finish. The marginal portion 8 isfolded downwardly along the innery side of the upper marginal portion of.the wall 1v and secured thereto by glue, o r other *stitches 14, orother appropriate fastening means.

Or, as shown in Fig. 7, the lower longitudinal marginal portions of thewall member 5 and frame 3 may be left unattached, the lower side of thepocket between said -wall member 5 andframe 3 being closed by the tab 7.Thus, it is optional .whether the lower longitudinal edges of the frame3 and wall member 5 are connected or not.

A panel 15 of flexible and pliable material bridges the space betweenthe inwardly open pockets and has its ends extending into said pockets.`As shown, a section 16 of flexible' and pliable material is' attached toone end of said panel 15 by a row of stitches 17l` and the voppositerial.

end of said panel is attached to the end of the wall member 4 bystitches 18. However, if desired, this connecting section 16 may beomitted and the panel 15 may'be otherwise connected with the wallmember4, or not as desired. The opposite end of the panel 15 extends into thepocket between the frame 3 and the wall member 5 and, if desired, may beattached to said wall member 5 by glue, or other appropriate fasteningmeans. Whether'the panel 15 be attached to the wall member 5 or not, thefiexible and pliable section'16 permits free sliding movementslof thepanel 15, so that said panel will not buckle when the 'billfold isfolded transversely between the inwardly open pockets, irrespective'ofthe amount of contents of the billfold. The upper and lower marginaledges of the panel 15 may be provided with flanges 19 to be foldedagainst and secured to the inner surface of said panel that is towardthe wall members 4 and 5. However, these flanges may be omitted, ifdesired, without departure from the principle of theinvention.

A billfold thus constructed is complete and will comprise an elongatedcompartment formed by the outer wall' 1, and by the wall members 4 and 5in cooperation with the panel 15. However, in some instances I prefer'toembody in the billfold a partition 20 made of flexible and pliable mate-The blank of this partition is shown in Fig. 2 and may be provided alongits upper longitudinal edge with a flange 21 designed and adapted to befolded downwardly against the unfinished side thereof to form anornamental upper margin. In connection with its lower longitudinal edgethis 'partition is provided with spaced extensions 22.

One of these -extensions 22 is designed and adaptedto extend under` thelower longitudinal edge of the wall member 4'and upwardly between saidwallmember 4 and the wall element 2, or elsewhere as desired, andengaged by stitches `23, or other appropriate fastening means, employedto connect the lower longitudinal edges of the wall, element 2 and wallmember 4. These stitches do not extend through the wall 1 nor throughthe slidingpanel 15 and preferably do not extend through the partition20; but only extend through the extension 22 and` through the wallelement 2 and wall member 4. These stitchesare covered and concealedand' protected by the tab 6 when the billfold is complete.

The other extension 22'of the pa'rtition 20 may extend below the wallmember 5, panel 15, framev 3 and attached to the outer portion of saidframe, as shown in Fig. 8. This attachment of the ex- 'tension 22 to thelower portion of the frame 3.

may be by glue, or other suitable fastening means. Or the stitches 14may pass through the extension 22, frame 3, and wall member 5 and belowthe panel 15, as shown in Fig. 9. Thus, the attachment of the lowerlongitudinal edges of the partition 20 with the lower longitudinal edgesof the inwardly open pocket forming means may be obtained in optionalways.

If desired, a panel 24 of transparent material may be placed at theinner side of the frame 3\to .close the opening in said frame. Thispanel may 4be attachedto the inner side of the frame 3 by glue, or otherappropriate fastening means, or may be unattached to saidframe forconvenient withdrawal and replacement, or for other' purunitingco-operating parts of the billfold may be concealed and protectedotherwise than in the specific manner 'shown and described'` Icontemplate such variations as are within the scope of the inventionand, without restricting myself in any unessential particulars, I claim:

1. A billfold comprising a unitary section of flexible and pliablematerial folded to provide an outer wall and inwardly extending wallportions in connection with one end and the adjacent portion of a lowerlongitudinal edge of the outer wallforming an inwardly open pocket andan inwardly-extended frame in connection with the -opposite end andadjacent lower longitudinal edge portion of the outer wall and a wallmember in connection with the upper iongitudinal edge of said frameextending downwardly between said frame 'and said outer wall, said frameand said wall member being spaced from the -adiacent end of said pocket;fastening means attaching the lower longitudinal marginal portions ofsaid wall member and said frame covered and concealed by said connectionuniting the lower longitudinal edge of said outer wall with said frame,and a flexible and pliable panel bridging the space between said pocketand said wall member and having one end extending into said pocket andthe 'opposite end extending between said frame and said wall member.

2. A billfold comprising a unitary section of flexible and pliablematerial having an outer wall,provided with an inwardly extended w'alielement at one end and an inwardly extended frame at the other endspaced from said wall element and wall members in connection with theupper longitudinal edges of and extending downwardly between said wall`element and said frame respectively and said outer wall and havingtheir outer ends unattached to any portion of said unitary section;fastening means attachin'g the lower longitudinal marginal portions ofsaid wall members to said wall element and said frame respectively, tabsin connection with the lower longitudinal edge of said outer wallattached to said wall element and said frame respectively and coveringand protecting said respective fastening means, a flexible and pliable'panel overlapping said wall members and co- I fiexible 'and -pliablematerial Operating therewithl and with said outer wall to form aneiongated'bill eompartment, the ends of said panel being members andotherwise unattached to the billfold, and a partition in saidcompartment connected withsaid fastening means.

3. A billfold comprising a unitary section of having an outer eofvtached to said wall element connected with said wall' a av' said wallmembers to said wall element and said frame respectively, tabs inconnection with the lower longitudinal edge of said outer wall atandsaid frame respectively and covering vand protecting said respectivefastening means, a flexible and pliable panel overlapping said wallmembers and cooperating therewith and with said outer wall to form anelongated bill compartment, the ends of said panel being connected withsaid wall members and otherwise unattaehed' to the billfold,

and a partition in said compartment having portions inwardly from theends thereof connected with said fastening means, the end portions ofsaidpartition being unattached to any portion of ,the billfold.

'1. A billfold comprising a unitary section of flexible and pliablematerial including an outer wall and an inwardly extended frame at one'end portion of 'said outer wall and an inwardly extended wali element atthe other end of said outer wall spaced from said frame and wall membersin connection with the upper longitudinal edges of and-extendingdownwardly between said outer wall and said frame and saidwall ele'-ment respectively; fastening means eonnecting the' lower longitudinaledges of said wall members with said frame and said wall elementrespectively and leaving the ends of said wall members nnattached to anypart of said unitary section, said unitary section also including tabsin connection with said outer wall attached to said frame and said walielement -respectively and covering and protecting said fastening means,a

fiexible and pliable panel extending from` con- PRINCE A. GARDNER, Ja.

.therewith, and a

